Friday, November 18, 2011

During a town hall meeting in Ottumwa, Iowa this afternoon, Rick Santorum argued that Americans receive too many government benefits and ought to “suffer” in the Christian tradition. If “you’re lower income, you can qualify for Medicaid, you can qualify for food stamps, you can qualify for housing assistance,” Santorum complained, before adding, “suffering is part of life and it’s not a bad thing, it is an essential thing in life.”

By running for president, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum forfeited what appears to be his single-biggest source of income last year: the $293,153 he drew as a commentator on Fox News.

The cable network suspended Mr. Santorum and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich as paid contributors back in March after both took steps to pursue presidential bids.

The Pennsylvania senator earned at least $970,000 last year, according to financial disclosure forms released Thursday by the Federal Election Commission.

Now I know that poor Rick is hanging on the ragged edge of the 1%, but I'm still going to call anyone who earns almost a millions dollars in one year (on Wingnut welfare no less) a very, very lucky fellow who really shouldn't be telling people who qualify for food stamps that suffering is part of life.